Life-boat.



E.DURAND.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1912. 1,051,833. Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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EMILE DURAND, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE-BOAT.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EMILE DURAND, a subject of the King ot Great Britain, and a resident of Salem, in the county of Essex aandy State oit hflassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lite-Boats, of which the ,following is a specification.

This invention relates to boats, and par- 1o ticularly that class ot' boats known as catamarans, and has .for its object the production of a craft of this class which may be used for pleasure purposes or for lite saving.

The invention consists in the production of a boat having at its rear end an open bottom through which extends a revolubfle bladed member adapted in its rotation to propel the boat over the water.

The invention further consists in providing Ysuch a boat. with a float on either side having a plurality of compartments therein eac-h filled with compressed air.

The invention -further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrange ment of parts which will be fully understood by referenceto the description ot the dra-wi gs and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of a craft embodying thc features ot the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of `the same. Fig. 3 repre sents. a vertical section, the cuttingr plane 35 being on line 3-3 on Fig. Il. Fig.' lt represents a transverse section ot' the same, the cutting plane being on line 4 4 onFig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal section through one .oit the float members, and Fig. 6 represents a front elevation ot' the craft.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 represents a boat provided at its forward end with an inner bottom 11 leaving a compartment 12 adapted to be filled with compressed air. The rear portion ofx the boat 10 is provided with a semieylindrical casing 13 having an Jopen bottom as indicated at 14 in Figs 3 and 4 of the drawings. semicylindrical easing 13 is a revoluble shaft 15, the forward end ot' which has se- 55 cured thereto a gear 16 meshing with a Specification of Letters Patent. v

Application filed August 14, 1912.

Centrally disposed in the- Serial No. 715,116.

driving gear 17.1'otated by any suitable en- Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

gine 18. The shaft 15 has radiating therefrom a plurality of spokes 19, to the outer end ot' which is secured a helical blade 20, the outer edge of which nearly reaches to the inner wall of the casing 13, while the inner edge is considerably removed from the periphery of said shaft 15, all as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Over the easing member 13 is built a fraine` work 21, forming compartments 22 and 23, available for the storage of baggage and any other material which it may be desired to place therein. These compartments 22 and 23 are closed by the doors 211 and 25 respectively. 1n front of the framework 2l is a seat 26. A steeringwheel 27 is provided which is adapted to operate the rudder 28 in any usual manner. In the bow 0i the boat 10 is a com artment. 29 adapted to contain gasolene if a gasolene engine is used,-or water or any other l" uid it may be desired to carry.l On each si of the boat l0 is secured a float member 30, each provided wit-l1 a plurality of comp rt ments 31, into which is forced compresed air through the inlet pipes 32. Each of floats 30 is provided withI keels 33.

Along the outer face of each float member 30 is secured a grab rail 36 which .may be seized by anyone in the water in order vto keep afloat when the craft is us d :for

saving lives after a marine accidentt `The floats 30 are considerably below the axis of the horizontal revoluble shaft l5, butfhe blade 2O secured to said shaft is of suc ifa size that its outer edge extends considerably below the float members 30 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The boat l() has fn'ojeeting` [langes Il? which are secured to ears 38 formedV upon or secured to the float members 30. A rod 39 in- 'terposcd between the ears #10 on said float members gives further rigidity to said inembers and retains them in normal separatd position.- The tloatn'iembers 3l are preferably made oi metal and are solid at either end as indicated at Ll1, thereby providing a means for withstanding any shock which may be incurred when the craft.accidentally runs into an object. The floats 30 are in tended to keep the boat 10 afloat and should either ot' these become disabled the' compressed air in the compartment l2 of the boat 10 will assist in floating the boat. This fmakes a very effective craft which may be used for pleasure,'and i's particularly adapted. for use in life saving. l

, V'fllfhemany advantages of a boat of this El'construction if is believed Will be fully apparent from theeforegoing description.

. Having thus described. my invention, I lclaim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of two parallel fioat members; a framework interposed between said loat members including a semicvlindricaly casing open at the bottom; a revoluble shaft in said casin above the water line; and a helical bladed member secured to said shaft with the outer edge of its blade below said oat members.V

2,111 a device of the class described, the combination of two parallel float members g. a framework interposed between said Heat members including a semiylindrical Casin open at the bottom; a revoluble shaft horizontally'positioned in said casing above the Water line; and a helical bladed member secured tof said shaft with the 'outer edge of its blade below said float members.V

3. lne-a device of the class described, the @combination of two parallel Hoet members;

- {Ja-'framework interposed between said ioat membens. including-ifa. seniieylndrical cas-4 ing open at the bottoni 1:' a revoluble shaft 1n said casing above the water line; and

if 1 a helical bladed member secured to said shaft with the outer edge of its blade below said float members and its inner edge removed from the periphery of said 4. ln a device of the class described, the combination of two parallel oat'members divided into a plurality ot compartments;

means whereby each compartmentfxiay filled with air; a revoluble horizontallaiiaft centrally disposed between and, above said Heats; and a helical blaclcd membe mi Said. shaft with a kportion 'there-of' exteiidiijeg be" low said floats.

5. In a device of the class'deseribed the Boston, K' 

